Nearly 46 years have passed since America was stunned by the untimely passing of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
His legacy, however, continues to inspire and touch the lives of people around the world. Many who believe in the promise of equality, freedom and justice will honor King during the official celebration of his birthday on Jan. 20.
“We had many giants who provided excellent leadership and guidance during the Civil Rights movement, but Dr. King courageously drew worldwide attention to inequalities so that our society would be forced to change for the better,” said Pat Payne, director of multicultural education for Indianapolis Public Schools.
In a recent interview with the Recorder, the legendary civil rights leader’s son, Martin Luther King III, said his father dedicated his life to fighting the “triple evils” of poverty, racism and violence, both in America and around the world.
The younger King added that his father was also ahead of his time by eloquently and urgently addressing acute economic inequalities.
“During his life, dad was talking about a living wage, and he was way ahead of the curve,” King said. “Forty five years later, we are still trying to get the minimum wage raised.”
On a positive note, the younger King noted that there are signs that America took steps toward his father’s dream of a truly equal and free society, such as the integration of many neighborhoods and schools, more opportunities for minorities and the election of Barack Obama as the country’s first African-American president.
However, he said that some aspects of the elder King’s dream still remain unfulfilled, especially in the area of economics, with the number of Americans living in poverty jumping from 45 million in the 1960s to more than 60 million today.
Local resident William Jackson believes King still has a “profound” impact on the community, but that the message indicating the need for more jobs and fair wages has been largely unheeded.
“We know that the Black unemployment rate is almost double the national average,” Jackson said. “Blacks are paid less than their white counterparts on average in corporate America. It has been nearly 50 years since Dr. King has been gone and the pursuit for his dream continues.”
Martin Luther King III, however, believes there is hope and positive changes are on the horizon, if civil rights groups, labor, religious leadership, community activists and concerned residents of every city push the nation’s leaders, especially members of Congress, toward policies that will guide America closer to fulfilling his father’s goals.
“This is a critical time for Americans all over our nation, but we can use it to become re-engaged,” he said. “Social media can be used as the next wave of the movement. All we have to do is engage people in issues that everybody can agree will move the community forward.”
King Holiday: More than a day off
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday has been officially recognized in the United States since 1983 and has been observed in Indiana since 1986.
While some use the day for taking off time from school and work, everyone is encouraged to serve their community and share in Dr. King’s timeless dream of a truly just society during the national holiday. Numerous events are being held across the city over the next week to honor King, offering a good reason to not just sit at home but to be engaged with the community, as he would have wanted.
Events being held in observance of King’s birthday include:
Variety at the Indiana Historical Society
Join the Indiana Historical Society, 450 W. Ohio St., as it celebrates Martin Luther King Jr. Day with free admission and fun on Jan. 20. Guests will be able to see the Indiana Experience, enjoy family-friendly crafts and activities, storytelling by Deborah Asante, historic gym classes featuring 1930s calisthenics and two exhibits, including “Freedom: A History of Us” and “The Legacy of the Civil Rights Movement.” For more information, call (317) 232-1882 or visit indianahistory.org.
Indiana Civil Rights Commission
The Indiana Civil Rights Commission and the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Indiana Holiday Commission will hold their annual King celebration at the Indiana Statehouse on Jan. 16 from 12:30 to 2 p.m.
Highlights of the event will include remarks from Gov. Mike Pence, and the unveiling of two busts honoring James Sidney Hinton, Indiana’s first African-American to serve in the Statehouse, and Julia Carson, the first African-American from Indianapolis elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.
There will also be a presentation of four awards, including the Spirit of Justice Award to athlete and entrepreneur Jerry Harkness who was a collegiate and professional basketball star best known for winning the 1963 NCAA Division I Basketball Championship with Loyola University Chicago. Harkness’ handshake with Mississippi State basketball players prior to their NCAA tournament game is considered a crucial turning point in the fight for equality in college basketball. For more information, call (317) 232-2600 or visit in.gov/icrc.
ICLC Celebration of King
The 45th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. birthday celebration service hosted by the Indiana Christian Leadership Conference will be held Jan. 20 at St. John’s Missionary Baptist Church, 1651 Dr. Andrew J. Brown Ave. This year’s pre-birthday festivities begin at 10 a.m., and the official service will commence at 11 a.m. with Karen Freeman-Wilson, the mayor of Gary, Ind., as this year’s guest speaker. Remarks will also be shared by various appointed and elected city, state and federal officials. Former Sen. Richard Lugar is this year’s Drum Major for Justice Award recipient. The Indiana Christian Leadership Conference, through the vision of the late Dr. Andrew J. Brown, a friend of King, began celebrating the life and legacy of the slain civil rights advocate in 1969. For more information call (317) 545-5440.
Remember King at the IMA
The Indianapolis Museum of Art (IMA), 4000 Michigan Road, will celebrate King’s holiday on Jan. 20 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. with family art-making activities, along with a featured community art project entitled “One and All” created by the Theater of Inclusion, films on civil rights leaders, spirituals from the Freetown Village Singers and a New Orleans-style brass band. For more information, call (317) 923-1331 or visit inamuseum.org.
Contribute with the Eiteljorg
In honor of King, on Jan. 20 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Eiteljorg Museum will offer free admission with the donation of a non-perishable food item to Gleaners Food Bank. Donations can be dropped off at the Eiteljorg, 500 W. Washington St. For more information, call (317) 636-9378 or visit eiteljorg.org.
Did you know?
An Indiana Congresswoman’s efforts helped Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. become among the few people honored with a national holiday in the United States. Katie Hall, a U.S. Representative from Northwest Indiana, led the effort in Congress to pass legislation making King’s birthday a federal holiday in 1983. Hall, who died in 2012, served from 1983 to 1985, and was the first African-American member of Congress from Indiana.
